Jan. 15, 2008
| Game Specifics | | Date and Tip Time | Jan. 16, 2008 at 7:00 pm EST | | Location | Annapolis, Md. | Alumni Hall (5,710) | | | Tickets | 1-800-US4-NAVY | | Promotions | Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce Night | | Television | None | | Video Streaming | | | Radio | WNAV (Annapolis; 1430 AM) | WFED (Washington; 1050 AM) | | Radio talent | Bob Socci | | Webcast | WNAV (1430 AM) | WFED (1050 AM) | | | Gametracker | |
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ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy men's basketball team looks to rebound from a tough eight-point setback at Bucknell with a Wednesday night contest against Lehigh. Tip-off is slated at 7:00 pm in Alumni Hall, where Navy owns a 4-2 record this year, winning two straight contests.
The contest will be broadcast on WNAV (1430 AM) and WFED (1050 AM) with Bob Socci calling the action, beginning with the Navy basketball pregame show at 6:45 pm. Live video streaming and Gametracker will be available on www.navysports.com.
MIDS AIM TO BOUNCE BACK AGAINST LEHIGH AFTER DROPPING LEAGUE OPENER
Navy lost its seventh straight Patriot League opener last Friday night against Bucknell, 85-77, but if the opening weekend is any indication of the coming Patriot League season, it is going to be a wild ride.
The Mids, picked seventh in the Patriot League preseason poll, gave No. 2 selection Bucknell all it could handle on its home floor, before succumbing in the second half. Meanwhile, preseason No. 8 selection, Lafayette, knocked off the preseason No. 1 pick, Holy Cross, 60-52, on the Leopards' home floor.
The Mids got strong efforts once again from its three upperclassmen guards, Greg Sprink, Kaleo Kina and Chris Harris. The trio combined for 61 points, but managed to play just a combined 92 minutes, as Sprink and Harris were both saddled with foul problems in the second half. Sprink led the Mids with 26 points, while Kina accounted for 24 and Harris added 11. It marked the third time in the last six games that two members of the trio had gone over 20 points in the same game.
As a group, they are averaging 45.1 ppg, including 59.0 combined points per game in the last six outings. Sprink leads the Navy attack at 19.6 ppg and 6.0 rpg, both career highs, while Kina is averaging 14.3 ppg and lead the team with 55 assists and 34 steals. Harris, lastly, averages 11.3 ppg and 3.3 apg.
ABOUT LEHIGH
Lehigh enters the contest with a 7-8 overall mark and 0-1 in the Patriot League after falling to American, 71-54, in the opener at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pa., on Saturday night. The Mountain Hawks shot just 35.3 percent in the contest, and watched as American connected on 11-of-18 three-point shots and commit just seven turnovers helping AU to the victory. Marquis Hall scored 13 points to lead a balanced Lehigh lineup that committed just 11 turnovers and outrebounded the Eagles, 36-28.
Hall leads a balanced attack with a 12.3 ppg average as well as a 4.9 apg average. Zahir Carrington (11.8), Bryan White (10.5) and freshman Rob Keefer (8.5) all average at least 8.0 ppg. White leads the Patriot League in rebounding at 8.1 rebounds per game.
As a team, Lehigh has dropped three of the last four games, with the lone win being a 68-49 triumph over Princeton on Jan. 6. The Mountain Hawks average 66.5 points per game, while shooting 43.2 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from three-point range. However, foes are averaging 67.3 ppg, while connecting on 42.2 percent of their three-point tries. Lehigh ranks first in turnovers per game at just 12.7 mistakes.
| Lehigh Projected Starters (2007-08 Stats) | Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Year | Stats / Notes | G | 1 | Marquis Hall | 5-11 | 170 | So. | 12.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.9 apg | F | 10 | Zahir Carrington | 6-7 | 220 | So. | 11.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg | G | 15 | Rob Keefer | 6-3 | 185 | Fr. | 8.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg | F | 20 | Bryan White | 6-6 | 200 | Sr. | 10.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg | G | 35 | Matt Szalachowski | 6-2 | 190 | Jr. | 6.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg |
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| Navy Projected Starters (2007-08 Stats) | Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Year | Stats / Notes | G | 3 | Greg Sprink | 6-5 | 220 | Sr. | 19.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.4 apg | G | 5 | Chris Harris | 6-2 | 175 | So. | 11.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 3.3 apg | G | 15 | Romeo Garcia | 6-4 | 202 | Fr. | 2.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg | G | 24 | Kaleo Kina | 6-4 | 210 | Jr. | 14.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.1 spg | C | 44 | Mark Veazey | 6-10 | 215 | Fr. | 4.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.2 bpg |
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THE SERIES
Navy leads the series, 40-15, but is just 3-8 in the last 11 meetings with one of the wins coming after Lehigh used a player subsequently declared ineligible in 2004-05. The Mids are 23-9 all-time in Annapolis, including a 9-7 advantage in Alumni Hall. Navy's last win in Annapolis, however, not via a forfeit came way back in the 2002 season, a 92-85 victory. Prior to the 2002-03 season, Navy had won 16-of-17 meetings from Feb. 25, 1995, to Feb. 9, 2002.
# GO NAVY #
